MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, 10 November 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, 9 November): BRATISLAVA - Two trains collided between the town of Pezinok (Bratislava region) and Bratislava, with several people being reported injured at the scene, state-run passenger carrier ZSSK told TASR on Sunday, adding that train REX 1814 (from Nitra to Bratislava) collided head-on with train Ex 620 after leaving Pezinok station. Railway and train operations have been disrupted. ZSSK expects significant delays and possible closures in the affected section. According to ZSSK, the causes of the collision are unknown at this time. "Emergency services are responding at the scene of the accident, and several injuries have been reported. ZSSK is currently working closely with state-run railway-infrastructure operator ZSR, the police, and emergency services," stated the ZSSK communications department. BRATISLAVA - Following Sunday evening's train collision between Pezinok (Bratislava region) and Bratislava, 18 injured people have been taken to four hospitals within the Bratislava University Hospital (UNB), UNB spokeswoman Eva Kliska told TASR, adding that this number may change. "All patients are undergoing diagnostics so that our doctors can determine the extent of their injuries. Two patients are currently undergoing surgery. We expect that the number of people who will need to be operated on will increase," stated Kliska. UNB activated its trauma plan in connection with the accident. Three patients with serious injuries have been brought to Bory Hospital so far. "The hospital will be prepared to accept more injured patients as needed," said spokesman for the Penta Hospitals network Tomas Kral. BRATISLAVA - The cause of Sunday's train accident on the line between Bratislava and Pezinok (Bratislava region) was probably one of the trains running a red light, state-run rail infrastructure operator ZSR general director Ivan Bednarik stated at the scene of the accident. "Following the accident involving trains in the Pezinok-Svaty Jur section in the early evening, transport has been interrupted. Replacement bus services are operating in the Pezinok-Cifer and Pezinok-Bratislava-Vinohrady sections. Some express trains are being diverted via Trnava/Galanta and several regional connections have been cancelled. Selected trains are delayed by more than an hour," state-run passenger carrier ZSSK told TASR. BRATISLAVA - Speaking on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday, coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko stated that SNS can't support the amendment to the Gambling Act. Parliament will decide on the amendment again after President Peter Pellegrini vetoed it. According to Danko, gambling will be one of the issues discussed at a coalition council meeting on Monday (10 November). Opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) chair Branislav Groehling criticised Danko, saying that SNS could have vetoed the gambling amendment earlier at a coalition council meeting or a government session. "I'll remain firm in my position that SNS can't support such a law," Danko said of the vetoed amendment concerning gambling, adding that Voice-SD MPs shouldn't support the amendment either, as it was vetoed by President Peter Pellegrini, who is still the Voice-SD honorary chairman. According to him, it's natural that Smer-SD can't change its position, as it nominated Rudolf Huliak as sport and tourism minister who tabled the draft. BRATISLAVA - Gambling should be more regulated and should bring more money into the state budget, coalition Voice-SD party chair Matus Sutaj Estok said on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday, adding that, however, the amendment proposed by Tourism and Sport Minister Rudolf Huliak (Independent) shouldn't be at the expense of towns and municipalities. The Voice leader explained that the amendment vetoed by President Peter Pellegrini will be the subject of a coalition council meeting on Monday (10 November). "If Mr Huliak claims that his proposal will bring hundreds of millions of euros into the budget, then let him prove it. But let him not do so at the expense of towns and municipalities, let him not do so at the expense of families being torn apart and similar things. So I'm against supporting gambling, but I'm in favour of gambling being more regulated and bringing in more financial resources," said Sutaj Estok. BRATISLAVA - The crime rate is on the rise not only because of the consequences of the "scandalous" amendment to the Penal Code, but also because of the deteriorating standard of living of the people caused by the policies of the governing coalition, MP Gabor Grendel ('Slovakia' - 'For the People') told a briefing on Sunday, expressing a belief that Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has "thrown his own ministers overboard" with his statements on this issue. MP Veronika Remisova ('Slovakia' - 'For the People') stated that the prime minister admitted that the current government has caused a deterioration in people's safety through changes to the Penal Code. "They are taking more and more money from people, everything has become more expensive, and at the same time they have softened the penalties for theft and other property crimes. When people see that nothing will happen to those at the top and at the same time feel the consequences of the so-called consolidation, they often resort to shoplifting in desperation," said Grendel. When Fico said that he was surprised at how some representatives were sticking to the amendment to the Penal Code and that if the data showed them that something was happening, they should change it, he was criticising the ministers of his own government, pointed out Grendel. ko